Disciple of Jo Gwang-jo who created the Soswaewon garden; pen name Soswaeong
| Life | 1503 ~ 1557 |
| Era | 조선 |
| Clan | 제주 양씨 |
Yang San-bo (1503-1557) was an early-Joseon scholar who declined office, with courtesy name Eonjin and pen name Soswaeong. He is said to have studied as a boy under Jo Gwang-jo.
When his teacher was forced to drink poison in Neungju after the 1519 Gimyo purge, he gave up on a career and lived in seclusion at Soswaewon, a retreat garden he built in Damyang at the foot of Mudeungsan.
He is said to have studied under Jo Gwang-jo from about age 15, and a story says the bright, serious boy taught himself to read.
Tradition holds that he sat the Hyeollyang-gwa in 1519 but missed selection when the number of places was cut. An anecdote says King Jungjong summoned him, consoled him and gave him paper and ink.
When Jo Gwang-jo died by poison in Neungju that winter, Yang turned his back on public life and returned to Damyang. He is said to have declined repeated offers of office.
Soswaewon is a retreat garden that draws a mountain stream into its setting and is a designated Scenic Site. It is often dated to around the 1530s, though sources differ, and it was refined over his lifetime and by his descendants.
Soswaewon became a gathering place of Honam scholars, with figures such as Kim In-hu, Song Sun and Jeong Cheol said to have visited; Kim In-hu's poems on its 48 scenes made it famous. The extent of each friendship varies by source.
He died in 1557. Soswaewon passed to his descendants and is now regarded as a leading example of Korean garden culture.
His tomb is said to be in Damyang, but its exact spot was not confirmed. Soswaewon lies in Gasa-munhak-myeon, Damyang.
Descendants are said to have tended Soswaewon for generations; the Soswaewon-gong branch under Yugyeok-gong bears his name.